RCTC Cabinet to consider independent review of residential and day care provision
Cabinet will consider transformational options for residential and day care provision in the County Borough following an independent review.
A report to Members could result in the Council consulting on a preferred option to substantially modernise and invest in the delivery of both services, to better meet the future needs of older residents.
In September 2017, Cabinet agreed a £50m investment plan to develop 300 extra care beds across Rhondda Cynon Taf, to deliver modern accommodation options to meet changing needs.
An independent review into residential care has highlighted the benefits of the current provision and modernisation programme, and recommends a phased shift from provision within the Council care homes to a model based around the six extra care developments. Building on the findings of the review, Members of the Cabinet will be asked to consider a preferred model to form part of a 12-week public consultation exercise.
The preferred proposal before members recommends that the Council enhances its in-house service delivery model, focusing more on complex care and respite in the future. To support this move, it is proposed that the commissioning of standard residential and nursing care could be supported by the external market. This option would see the Council invest and focus upon providing a better service for those residents with more complex needs.
Cabinet will also be presented with a preferred option to phase the transformation of day services in line with a modernised and enhanced new service model, as a result of the review. This new model would seek to cater for the changing needs and aspirations of older people by refocusing internal provision on complex care and would include four key elements – universal services, older people opportunities within Community Hubs, day care services for assessed care needs, and specialist dementia care.
Councillor Geraint Hopkins, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services and Welsh Language, said: “The changing needs of older generations today and in the future, is one of the most significant challenges facing society and to inform its modernisation and improvement programme the Council commissioned a review into the delivery of services to older people, which have remained unchanged.
“Cabinet will shortly discuss this independent review, which focused on residential and day care provision currently provided in Rhondda Cynon Taf and has set out options to respond to the changing demands of older residents into the future.
“The report to Wednesday’s meeting outlines a number of options and Members could agree to an extensive consultation around the future shape of both residential care and day care provisions – to ensure we create the right model of service delivery to respond to increasing demand and changing needs.
“The preferred option before members would provide residents with the choice, wherever possible, across an improved range of options and specialisms, while also creating greater stability in the wider care-sector. This approach would see the continuation of the Council’s high-quality care, through our Adult Social Care Service, which is recognised and valued by residents supported by significant modernisation.
“Key to the proposals is the delivery of better care facilities for a new generation of older people. We want to ensure we continue to provide the very best level of care and support for residents into the future, by taking proactive steps now to respond to future needs.
“The development of extra care is a fundamental building block of this new approach and Cabinet has already agreed the Council’s extra care vision which will create an additional 300 beds, and the first scheme in Aberaman is currently under construction for delivery in 2019.
“Should Cabinet agree to consult on any one of the options before Members, the Council will be keen to understand the views, needs and aspiration of residents and other stakeholders, to inform a potential future decision on how best to support our older generation into the future.”
As part of a move to a new future model, Cabinet will also be recommended to manage admission across the current range of services during this period, to minimise impact upon service users until such a time that a definitive decision on the future shape of services is determined by the Council.
